The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-25
BACK FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
Scion Long, of st. Augustine, Returns
to Face His AccuserS.
From the Jacksonville (FIa.D Herald.


From the Jacksonville (FVa.l Herald.
Almost the middle of last June an account
appeared in the newspapers concerning the
disappearance of Mr.. Scion r. Long, who,
it was said, had left ST. Augustine with a
large sum of money which ne had collected
as agent for the property of his brother.
Hon John G.. Long. IL was also stated
that he had gone to South America with the
intention of making that country his future
home. These reports were first brought TO
st. Augustine by a man named Joseph
Nelson, who had accompanied Long to New
York
Yesterday Mr. Long arrived in this city
on his way TO Marion county, where he has
accepted a position. Mr.. Long last night
emphatically denied the accusations against
him. He seemed much hurt by the reports
that had been circulated about him, and
made the following statement:
1.-The facts are that when | left st. Au-
gustine had but S25 in my possession, and
| can show receipts from the First National
Bank of Florida where Regularly deposited
the money received on my brothers ac-
count. | was employed by the Jacksonville
and st. Augustine Railroad Company in
their freight warehouse at st. Augustine
and after hours l used to attend to my
brothers business during his absence, such
as collecting rents, etc.
had long wished to visit South America.
| was tired of my occupation and deter
mined to strike out. | left st. Augustine
and at Savannah met Nelson, with whom
was acquainted. He told me he was going
to Atlanta, but when | said | was going tc
New York he expressed desire to go too
He sold his Atlanta ticket to a ''Scalpern and
prepared to accompany me. When we ar
rived at the steamship Nelson found that he
had not money enough left TO purchase 9
ticket. and borrowed IS of me- / then had
but $40, after paying for my ticket We
both took steerage passage, which / am sure
| | would not have done had been we'll sup
| piled with money.
"When we arrived in New York we
| looked about town awhile and Nelson, be
| ing without money, said that if | would pay
for the telegram, he would send to his moth,
er IN st. Augustine for funds. This
| agreed to do, and like himself | was soor
out of funds. / then pawned my watch and
chain raising thereby few dollars, which
l divided with Nelson. He then babe me
| goodbye, and | have not seen him SINCE
81 obtained berth in a steamer bound
| for South America, going out as assistant
steward. | intended to leave the ship when
we arrived there. The first place we landed
was at San Diego but after a few hours on
| shore among villainous looking Portuguese
and Italians my dream of life in South
America vanished, and l went on board
again, returning to New York"
II then went to Connecticut and found
employment as brakeman ON railroad
Being unused TO that kind of work left the
road and obtained other employment
Meanwhile found out from friends in st.
| Augustine the damaging reports against me
and knowing them to be utterly false ! OF
! course felt very badly about it, | left New
York few days ago to accept position in
this State and l wish to let my friends
know that | am innocent of the charges
circulated against me-"